David Ragan – Race Recap
Bank of America 500-Concord, NC / October 13, 2007
Started 31st / Finished 40th

RAGAN REMAINS 22ND IN POINTS DESPITE DISAPPOINTING NIGHT AT LOWE’S MOTOR SPEEDWAY
David Ragan and the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion

CONCORD, NC (October 13, 2007) – David Ragan and the No. 6 AAA team were filled with optimism as they headed into Saturday’s Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. After qualifying 31st on Thursday, Ragan ended the second practice session on Friday as 13th quickest.

The field rolled off pit road and began their pace laps around 7:30 pm ET on Saturday evening followed by the green flag at 7:45.

Ragan immediately charged forward, gaining three positions on the first lap. He remained in the top-30 until lap 20 when the No. 41 car came up on Ragan’s right-hand side. Ragan, not knowing he was there, made contact sending his AAA Ford into the outside wall.

Ragan told his team that the right front wheel of his AAA Ford Fusion had been knocked off and he had no brakes. The No. 6 machine was towed to the garage where the AAA pit crew got to work on it right away.

There was a good amount of damage done to the AAA Ford so the team worked as quickly as possible allowing Ragan to return to the track on lap 125, 105 laps down.

Throughout the remainder of the night the AAA pit crew and crew chief, Jimmy Fennig, did what they could to make their race car drive better. Ragan struggled with it being too “tight,” therefore adjustments to the chassis and tire pressures were made to help with that.

By the end of the 334 lap event Ragan was able to pick up three spots and finished in 40th place.

“We were backing up a little bit,” said Ragan. “Our AAA Ford was a little free and you’re just trying to bide a time waiting for the first caution and we’re very disappointed to be the first caution. I guess the 41 had a good run on the outside. I didn’t know he was there, just pinched him up into the wall. I really feel bad to hurt his day. He didn’t do anything wrong but just racing too hard too early on. Just one of those things.”

Ragan is currently 22nd in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings. He is second in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year race.

Ragan will compete next in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 21st. Coverage begins at 1:00pm ET on ABC and MRN.